If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Brockers dominates at defensive tackle

Rams fans have been waiting for first-round pick Michael Brockers to have a breakout game. Sunday’s performance should satisfy most of them. Brockers recorded 11 tackles — almost unheard of for a defensive tackle — on 52 plays in the Rams’ 16-13 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers and was a key cog in limiting 49ers running back Frank Gore to 58 yards on 25 carries.

Brockers stood out on a stop for minus-1 yard against Gore in the third quarter and for hustling downfield to pull down tight end Vernon Davis on a 9-yard gain in overtime.

“He’s improving,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “He played pretty well last week as well. He played stout, strong, got good pressure, had a nice chase-down tackle. He’s feeling good, and he’s improving.”

Much was expected of the 6-5, 322-pound Brockers when the Rams made him the 14th overall pick. But his regular-season debut was delayed while he rehabbed a high ankle sprain suffered in the final preseason game. He finally took the field Sept. 30 at home versus Seattle and tweaked the same ankle but missed only a series or two.

Since then, his playing time and impact have increased steadily. He recorded his first sack Oct. 21 versus Green Bay and had 1˝ sacks in the first game against San Francisco. Last week, he accounted for six tackles in the Rams’ 31-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals